Every monarch inherits the mother of all art collections—one million items including 7,000 paintings, 30,000 watercolors, and half a million prints, to say nothing of sculpture, furniture, and jewelry—but the late Queen Elizabeth decided to show many of them to the public. Only a tiny fraction is here; the booty is also in palaces such as Kensington and Hampton Court, and on loan. The works you'll see here (budget 1 hr.) are undoubtedly exceptional (one of the world’s few Vermeers, a Rubens self-portrait given to Charles I, glittering ephemera by Fabergé), but depending on what temporary exhibition supplements them, they may not be the cream of what the crown owns, and it may bore kids. The Gallery also hosts regular temporary themed exhibitions.
London
Travel Guide
London› Attraction
The Queen’s Gallery
Buckingham Palace Rd., SW1
Our Rating
Hours
Thurs–Mon 10am–5:30pm; last admission 4:15pm
Transportation
Tube: Victoria
Phone
020/7766-7301
Prices
Admission £17 adults, £11 young people 18–24, £9 children 5–17, under 5 free. Discounts available when bundled with ticket to Buckingham Palace.
Web site
The Queen’s Gallery
Map
Buckingham Palace Rd., SW1 LondonNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.